Perhaps you already use EDI, but you’re looking for a change. Perhaps you haven’t yet dipped into the world of EDI, but you’re feeling the strain of using slow, paper-based processes to sell to big-box retailers or communicate with your 3PLs (third-party logistics companies).
Either way, you’re probably wondering about the best EDI for Sage X3, because you know that your EDI success relies on finding the perfect solution for your needs.
Since so much is at stake, let’s talk about the three things you should focus on when you’re searching out the best EDI for Sage Enterprise Management.
Make Sure the Solution Is Certified by Sage and Integrates Seamlessly with Sage Enterprise Management
Though this may seem pretty obvious to you, you’d be amazed at how many business leaders choose EDI systems for their Sage ERP, yet don’t bother to ensure that the solution they chose was Sage certified.
When a product is Sage certified, that means it has passed rigorous third-party testing to ensure that it is reliable and has been developed to the highest standards – and trust us, when you’re processing hundreds or thousands of orders per day for your trading partners during the busy season, you don’t want to worry about whether or not your EDI solution is reliable.
In addition to providing reassurances about reliability, Sage certification also indicates that an EDI solution will work seamlessly and predictably with Sage X3. However, if you’re looking for the best EDI for Sage X3, you’ll want to look for a solution that offers embedded functionality, meaning that it works from right within your Sage system, so you don’t have to waste time on duplicate data entry.
Check to See If the EDI Integration Process Is Flexible and Scalable
The team at MAPADOC has been in the EDI industry for 30 years now. They definitely know EDI at this point, but there is one thing about EDI that is still mystifying. It’s that, even though EDI is a business standard developed between the ’60s and the ’80s, “standard” would not be the word we’d use to describe EDI vendors’ offerings. EDI offers a lot of variety.
Some EDI developers focus on CPG manufacturing and distibution, some focus specifically on the automotive industry, some work with food and beverage distribution, and others work with a wide range of other fields and industries.
All of which is to say that, when looking for the best EDI for Sage X3, you’ll want to make sure the solution you choose meets your exact needs and can also grow with you. To check on an EDI vendor’s scalability, ensure that they integrate with important third-party products that people in your industry typically use, such as barcoding tools or warehouse management systems.
In addition, check to see if your EDI vendor offers a large number of EDI “documents,” which are the building blocks of every EDI transaction. The more documents an EDI vendor has, the better they’ll be at helping you quickly and seamlessly integrate with additional trading partners, which can help you rest easy, knowing that you can act fast when a new business opportunity presents itself.
Look for the #1 Thing That Makes or Breaks an EDI Solution (It’s Not What You Would Expect)
Sage certification is extremely important, integrated technology is critical, and high levels of flexibility are required… but you may be surprised to learn that none of these items are the #1 Thing to Look for in Your EDI Solution.
Instead, your top consideration should be whether or not you like the company you’ll be working with.
This may sound like odd advice, but let us explain.
While we and our competitors try to make EDI as easy as possible, the fact is that EDI is a complex process that runs at top speed to keep your business on track. And, sometimes, you’ll need to make a fast change to your critical EDI systems, such as when:
- Your trading partners suddenly change the requirements on you (it happens more often than you’d think)
- You want to set up a partnership with a new retailer or distributor, but they won’t place orders unless you use EDI
- Sage releases an ERP update and you need to update your EDI because you want the features in the new ERP
In each of these situations, you’ll need to make changes to your EDI in a hurry – and that means you’ll be working closely with your EDI consultant, on a tight deadline, during a high-stress period for your business. If you don’t trust your consultant’s expertise or you feel like your EDI vendor thinks of you as just a number, it won’t really matter if you have certified software and a flexible solution.
After all, what’s the use of a “great” EDI system if your consultant leaves you in a lurch with a system that’s unusable or impossible to update?
Don’t underestimate the importance of outstanding customer service as you’re searching for the best EDI for Sage Enterprise Management.
Is MAPADOC the Best EDI for Sage X3?
At MAPADOC, we admit that we’re biased and we think that our solution is the best EDI for Sage Enterprise Management. Not only is it Sage certified, flexible, seamlessly integrated, and compatible with many third-party products, we also have one of the friendliest, most talented teams in the industry. We treat our clients like family because, truly, they are!
Over the past 30 years, we’ve had the honor of helping our clients increase their revenues and grow their businesses, and it’s all because they’ve been kind enough to give us constant feedback that has helped us shape MAPADOC to become what we consider the best EDI for Sage X3.
You should find out if we’re right.
Not sure if MAPADOC really is the best? Contact us to learn more about your options for EDI for Sage X3 and find out why MAPADOC has a 99.6% customer satisfaction rate.